In 2011, the Sister Wives Blog started out as a place to talk about the TLC reality show "Sister Wives", Kody Brown and his wives Christine, Robyn, Meri and Janelle. Today we not only discuss the show, we discuss Polygamy in our society, and the public perceptions of the Mormon Religion. We discuss "Polygamy USA" and will be covering "My 5 Wives."
This blog is geared towards the adult reader, so please, no one under the age of 18 years. Thank you!

156 comments:

... i never saw the husband lift a finger around the house, including when he was in the bedroom with the wife who was folding laundry ... realize this was the showcase introduction show, but omg lift your little finger!

If this is "as good as it gets" since he seems to be the middle balance between immature Peter Pan Kody and intimidating control freak/boring Papa Joe as well as the various creepy Centennial Park men we were shown - it still shows the glaring reality that no matter what - Polygamy. Still. Stinks. At best, it's just plainly and simply emotionally abusive to the women as well as the kids. Like Kristyn Decker has said - it really is even to the men, too! (just not on the highest scale that it is to the women tho.)

Can't you just see illnesses, like those that spread through cruise ships or dormitories, sweeping through their family? Many people in close quarters in close contact with one another is a breeding ground for germs to flourish and spread rapidly. Maybe polygamists have strong immune systems (could the inbreeding between these close-knit communities where everyone is related somehow to most everyone else have genetically selected for strong immune systems?)

Since health insurance is expensive and an issue if you aren't claiming children as your own, the whole public health aspect of polygamy is a topic worth exploring on this blog sometime.

And, yes, I know may put their kids on public health insurance at tax payer expense - but those that go without it entirely the public pays for down the line anyway with visits to emergency rooms.

Off topic but related - The Brown kids driving without insurance is another twist on this. If they get in a vehicle accident it's not like anybody's gonna leave them on the side of the road. They're going to be taken to a hospital and given emergency treatment and we're all gonna pay for that one way or another.

Liens on houses for non-payment of medical bills don't pay squat until the house is sold (and Sobbyn I'm talking about you).

I tried to like Brady, I really did, but everytime I looked at him he seemed to have this sleezy, swarmy smirk on his face with those beady little eyes, as if he was thinking, "Ha, ha I got 5 women to buy into this and I get to get enjoy 5 women in bed on a regular basis instead of only one."

When you come right down to it, these guys are in it for the variety of sex these women can provide. The women get the kids they want, raise them the way they want, because the husband won't take much interest in them. The wives only have to put up with his sexual needs now and again. All in all a pretty crumby lousy life, except for the man.

I didn't watch it and probably won't in the future, that mans face annoys me. It did make me sad in the above video when the host said the wives admit to feeling jealousy whenever their husband shows affection to another wife. I can't imagine spending my life that way, it just BOGGLES my mind. If they were doing it because they like the lifestyle is one thing, but to think that this is what is going to save them in the afterlife, I just...

They said they aren't doing it because of religion anymore. I suspect they are doing it because of the children. If they split, they know it is a possibility they may never see Brady again or that no man will want them because of having so many kids. It is amazing what women will put themselves through for the sake of their children [that goes for polygamous and monogamous relationships].

Maybe the Browns have the right idea, I don't need to see the bedroom moments. The way that Brady hops around, it's room service. I feel like he should wash his hands, at least, when he goes from wife to wife. He literally rolled out of bed and went on his rounds. Did he shower? I might have missed it. The sense of sadness and sometimes despair in some of the wives came through loud and clear. Sure, women can feel that in monogamous relationships but it's usually not because he's sleeping with a few other women that live with you.I feel like it's time to stop watching these programs,yet, I probably won't.

I think that scene was edited. I watched it several times - and there is a small clip for a second where you see the sister wives smiling and counting down as well. TLC obviously took some shots of their faces during different times and put it there.

You are so right! The kisses instead of swats sounds like something started for the kids, but this creepy guy found a way to use it as a weapon against the wives. He isn't concerned with their mental health. If he keeps them unstable then he gets to be the hero who fixes them.

If he had given her 40 little pecks on the cheek it might have been kind of cute (assuming everybody got the same treatment on their birthdays) but kissing her all over her face and neck was just plain bizarre. Also it kind of again shows how this really is all about the husband-priest-head being on stage and the center of attention.

Oh yeah, that's right, we're talking about a polygamist here. It's ALL about the men. ALWAYS. (Unless they get kicked to the curb and removed from the flock).

I think the Brady Bunch was trying to be more salacious than the Browns so that they could get their own show. So maybe TLC/production company encouraged the whole icky laying on the beds having discussions as a way to differentiate themselves. I have the feeling this is outside their comfort zone based on the awkwardness of those scenes.

1. Why was he more open and supportive to the wife wanting to adopt than the wife wanting to expand her brood naturally??2. You all have been married for 14-21+ years and the shared birthday problem is JUST now being addressed??This show seems so scripted.

B/C he knows that they would never be allowed to adopt a child (maybe she doesn't know this) so it's easy to be supportive of that...but having another baby is something the other wife can do and he doesn't want it??

I have the theory that Nonie possibly (again just my theory, I have nothing to back it up but gut instincts) gets post partum depression and that is why both Brady and the other wives seem reluctant to give Nonie 'permission' to have another baby. I thought they all acted really weird about that and Nonie looked on the verge of a breakdown until they all agreed it was something that could be considered in the future.

I didn't see what the big deal with was for the birthday. On all of their own birthdays they get a night with him, so why shouldn't Robyn? So immature that that they're mad they can't be with him on his actual birthday. It's just a date, it can be celebrated on another day, not a big deal.

Anon 2:04. Yes. I agree that the issue over who he spends his birthday with seems really trivial, but in polygamy women become super sensitive to who spend time with the man, and when. For one woman to always share that time makes the others feel left out. Unless you have waited for crumbs from the table, it's hard to comprehend. So demeaning for women!

Someone above said polygamists can't adopt. Not so, unfortunately. There was the notorious case of a woman who left the FLDS with her children, got cancer, became convinced that it was a judgement from God for leaving, went back and was assigned to a FLDS man chosen by her leaders. She lived with him for a short while, and then passed away. Her sister, Janet Johansen (who is a lovely woman) petitioned to adopt her nieces and nephews, but the courts awarded the children to the polygamist guy and one of his "wives," both of whom had no blood relationship, or legal relationship to the children. The oldest boy later grew up to give his 12 year old daughter to Warren Jeffs to rape. I'm telling you, Arizona and Utah are biased towards polygamy. (Btw I know Janet Johansen - her story would make an excellent post if she hasn't already done one on the blog.)

1. He seemed less supportive to the wife wanting to have another child than the wife wanting to adopt. Very irritating.2. It was very insensitive for the wife to label the other wife's response about how you can adopt anytime but she only has a few more years left to have kids of her own as inappropriate. Makes sense to me.3. They have been married 14-21+ years and the shared birthday drama is just NOW being resolved?? Please. Talk about being scripted.

I have been here since the blog started, have read every book and watched all shows. Don't comment much because I agree with all the other posters. While watching this with my husband, we noticed that the wives all share the same look of sadness in their eyes, especially during the ridiculous birthday kiss scene.

They said that they don't belong to their church anymore,why not? Did their beliefs change and now they are trying to live with multiple wives and many children?

They can try and put a modern, hip spin on this bs, but it still stinks! There isn't an independent woman in the bunch.

I'm just so saddened that the women are taught (and believe!) that they are not worthy of one man's love all to themselves... that they must spend their lives in agony watching the man they love show them every day that they won't ever be enough.. But the men are taught they are worthy of MANY women to fulfill their every need. So ridiculous! Makes me count my lucky stars that I wasn't born into that crazy cult.

I am very sorry these women do not have a stong self image to realize they don't need any man in their life, and especially not sharing one with 4 other women. Women are doing a piss poor job of raising our girls if this is the life they end up leading. Should be a lesson to all of us.

I watched the second video on TLC yesterday, so I watched the first video.....

Did anyone follow after the video was over, when other video selections come up, watch the mini Sister Wives video about the wives being liberal free thinkers.

It's a short video, I guess there is a longer version elsewhere, but when Kody is talking about how conservative he is, well, Robyn is sitting behind him, and when the camera is in for his closeup you can see her joolrry covered hand stroking him THE WHOLE TIME. It's totally creepy. Eeeewwww.

As for the 5 wives show. well, I can't see it until it's somewhere online, not sure if that will ever happen, but I've been reading and it sounds like just another man getting all the attention from his lonely unhappy brood.

What do they want us to think? These poor women are miserable, who wants to watch depressed people as entertainment?

I've seen the SW video and I remember talking about how they support gay marriage on here before. It's a tactic to slide what they want in since gay rights are hot right now. I'd like to see how they act if a child of their was..... they kill me.

Yeah what was that about? Robyn appeared to be stroking his back the whole time - ICK. The other wives must have been really annoyed. Meri usually tries to sit so close to him that she is almost in his lap. What ridiculousness!

I would LOVE to get all those kisses on my birthday but in a plural wife situation it is painful to watch. That said, I did enjoy the show (cuz admit it...we are here for the polygamy) a lot more than the Browns. Probably because I am sick of their whining.

I didn't understand the birthday problem. It's not the wife's fault her birthday falls on the same day as the man's. She deserves to celebrate her day just as much as he deserves to celebrate his. I mean, they only each get him like 4 times a month anyway. Just deal with it. Why is his birthday more important than hers? I wouldn't be in that position in the first place, but if I were one of the wives, I'd not care one bit about the birthday crisis. It kind of seemed really petty.

i think that at least part of what we saw of the other wives from the "birthday kiss" ridiculousness was creative editing. at one point (kiss no. 36?) there is a shot showing some of the wives and older children standing and counting along, a far cry from the sad puppy dog eyes and frowny faces shown throughout the experience. i think shots might have been used and re-used to make it look like the other four wives were participating less than they actually were.

not that this excuses the weirdness of the situation. i'm sure if they were actually counting along and smiling that it was still emotionally painful for them and they were doing nothing more than "keeping sweet."

The birthday scene made my skin crawl, I had to look away. I just don't understand why those women would choose to witness that. Ya know, long after my husband leaves for work I can smell his cologne on my clothes. I have to wonder if the other "wives" can smell each other's perfume/scent on Kody or Brady? Knowing in your mind that he was with another women is one thing, but being confronted with the physical proof takes it to another level. Can you imagine smelling Robyn's perfume on your husband? I would go nuts....

The Brady Bunch seems to be just another version of SW. And since they openly state that they have detached from any religious overlay of their lifestyle, their hook appears to be an ongoing window into the struggles of women and mothers coping with sharing their man.Seriously, how new and interesting can *that* be after KodyWorld??

Also, since they put sex and the bedrooms somewhat on the table as an appetizer for a would-be show, it could wind up looking a lot like a plyg version of any of the "Housewives of.." show, minus the glitz and glamour.

Yuck, he didn't even brush his teeth before sticking his face into each wife's face. This guy gives me the creeps, much more than Kody. Kody seems clueless and childish, while Brady seems like a creep and pervert. I don't think I can stomach watching a show about the Williams.

I noticed that when they showed the different wedding photos...the current bride looked fine but the existing wives looked SAD. Couldn't crack a smile, or even look halfway calm.

Also I felt bad for the wife who thought she was heavy - Rosemary was her name ? It's bad enough to not feel great about yourself, but to have the constant comparison to the others, is jsut heartbreaking. I also felt like his consolation words were not that great - "I love you despite your attractiveness" or something like that. So what, I am not atttractive and you are willing to overlook it !?!

That whole body pillow thing was nauseating. Gawd, what an unfortunate ego boost for Brady (I'm still working on a nickname for him). Brady Train. Brady Boo Boo. Shady Brady. Time will reveal the right one. Anyway, ugh. He must have felt like Justin Beiber or something, seeing all his wives snuggling up to his face on a pillow. *puke*

When we were in the military and hubby deployed for 15 months, my young kids each got a 'Daddy Pillow' a small pillow with his pic on it. It was cute; it made them laugh and helped them. Granted, I joked about getting a 'daddy pillow' myself (lol)...did not really *want* a cuddle-length pillow of the hubs though. It's just not the same, and it's kind of...weird.

Love Rosemary. You are not your size, you are your mind, your soul; your spirit. Don't let media get you down, 'cause that ain't real anyways!

don't post often, so allow me one more bit: saw the commercial for sister wives finale....yawn. I'll just read this blog ;)

I really felt like it was scripted as I watched. At some points, it even felt like they were reading lines. I was the biggest supporter of this new show coming out, and I had a weird vibe from watching. I really enjoyed seeing their homes, really reminded me of when the Brown's started off. I sat back and really watched the wives faces, and boy oh boy, no one was smiling very much. First wife was always looking down or seemed sad. The most sad was Rosemary. I understand she was having personal issues with her weight but during the meetings and other group times, she seemed to be staring off into the space above, or even giving a mean look a time or two. I would watch again, just to see more of daily life, but I don't think there is much of a story line to keep it going. One good point was that the kids seemed really happy (all except one, she looked really sad when the mom was doing her hair...forget her name...she seemed to be medicated).I was NOT happy that #5 wives adoption idea was put ahead of a woman wanting to birth her own. You can't afford another baby, but flying out of the country for weeks at a time, and the amount of the adoption IS ok??? Thought process is blurred dear sir!

One of the articles that came up when I googled Brady Williams reported the family is now going to follow Buddhism. LOL Well, isn't that a stretch to go from Fundamentalist Mormonism with a never ending list of rules and regs to meditation? Wonder how that's going to work out now that their afterlife doesn't require polygamy? I did think the Browns had covered most of the crazy bases and told some of the most transparent whoppers possible. The William family looks to be more of the same old polygamist bs--smug arrogant men with a gaggle of weeping women and more children than they can support without winning the lottery. Oh right, that's a regular TLC show.

Having the shows about polygamy on TV should shame our politicians into enforcing the laws on the books already and doing something about "bleeding the beast"! Only Texas has done something that hit the news all over the nation and reports from Canada are encouraging. Freedom of religion isn't a free pass to do as one pleases. It extends only until it conflicts with the laws of the land.

Ugh... The Williams will follow Buddhism like the Browns celebrated Hanukkah. Sounds like another way to get an additional TV special or perhaps their own series. This is the same family that thought it was a good idea to adopt a non-white baby so the kids would not be racist.

Anon - the politicians just refuse to get involved in Utah or Arizona, in the main. The way things are going in Utah, polygamy is about to be decriminalized. The former AG Mark Shurtleff obviously wanted that to happen so that he could get people off of his back for not doing anything about it, and his successor, John Swallow has declared that he is going to take the same approach as Shurtleff did. The state of Utah made such a bad job of things in the last court showing in the Brown case, that I don't think that the judge has much option BUT decriminalization, since the only evidence he is allowed to consider is that presented in court and what was presented was pathetic. I could have done a better job!

ex AUB: If they have left the polygamy faith how does he continue to live polygamy? If the whole family decided this was no longer their religion does he remain "married" to all the women or are they all at liberty to choose whether to remain married or leave? In general, if a man leaves polygamy how does he choose who to remain married to?

Kristy, that's obviously a knotty problem. Some men whom I know have taken different approaches to this. Some just remain with their first legal wife. When that happens often the left over women stay in the cult and get "married" to someone else. Sometimes they leave together and stay together for a while, but then split up, with the man choosing one of them, and the one who is left marries someone else. Brady and the women he lives with have opted to stay together, Legally there are no constraints on them, but (and this is pure speculation) maybe they want to keep the children together with their father, and can't face trying to make new lives for themselves alone?

So, in looking for this My Five Wives show, I learned that there is fictitious movie with the same name, starring Rodney Dangerfield and Andrew Dice Clay.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216930/

Of course, I quickly watched both the show and the movie.

What are the differences between the Dangerfield movie and the Williams show, you ask? Well, one stars an unlikeable aging patriarch, full of himself, who makes tawdry sexual references, all amidst poorly developed sub-plots. The other features Rodney Dangerfield.

Times are tough and the money situation ain`t what it used to be so what do the wives focus on:- wanting baby number 25- wanting to adopt a baby- the annoyance of having to use a clothesline to dry clothes in the hot Utah sun.(Don`t they all share a laundry room)- a wife sharing a birthday with the husband.- a wife sensitive about her weight and obsessing over if the husband is turned on by her.

No wonder Brady has high blood pressure dealing with this bunch of fools of his choosing. Mature people know that income should exceed expenses and if it doesn`t, they must work harder for their needs and be frugal cutting out every want to prevent a financial catastrophe. Sad to see the parents of 24 children ignorant of basic economics.

I agree with each of Fun with Figures points EXCEPT the one regarding Rosemary's low self-esteem regarding her weight. Be careful not to lump that in with the trivial wants/needs you take issue with because it is anything but trivial...unless you've never fought your weight.

I did not enjoy My 5 Wives and will not watch it again! It was awkward & uncomfortable. I truly wish I hadn't watched it before bed as I couldn't get the women's (not legal wives so I won't call them that!) sad & lonely expressions out of my head. I felt horrible for them and ended up finally falling asleep after 30 minutes of praying for them and all polygamist women. I hope they don't get a show and I hope this polygamist show craze fades out quick! If they do get a show, guess I'll keep up on this fabulously entertaining blog!

I would really like to know why they left the church. I know someone mentioned that they read it was because Brady was too controlling and power hungry; but I would like to know if that is true or not.

If they get their own show, I think they should be obligated to disclose that information. I don't want to pick them apart, or judge them, I just want to understand.

No, I don't think Brady being power hungry was the reason they left in the end. I think it was more because they found the AUB cult oppressive and controlling, as well as coming to the conclusion that Joseph Smith was not what he claimed to be.

"South Park's" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker (the writers of the Broadway production "Book of Mormon" as well) did a very funny "South Park" episode about the Mormon religion. The part about Joseph Smith is great; it can be found on youtube for anyone interested. I've only read one book specifically about the Mormon religion, and it was written by a Mormon (I cannot recall the title--it was a new release a year or two ago). While reading the book, I was like "where are the golden plates of Moroni NOW?" The author just glosses over this; they were 'misplaced'. Well, "South Park" has an idea about those plates. Really a must-see; funny not cruel. (the Scientology episode is pretty funny as well).

Watching this family I got the feeling that only the 5th wife really understood what she was getting into. She at least knew and accepted that she wouldn't see Brady all that often before she got married. The rest seemed totally unprepared but are willing to live with the situation.

Let's face it. Some men just don't need to be seen very often. Donate the sperm, come around a couple of times a month to satisfy the women's sexual needs, and she can raise her children in peace. Works for some.

Fun with Figures commented above about this....but seriously other than the ego and power trip, why would Brady or Kody want to deal with a group of emotionally adolescent women? Based on the show, I envision every night that Brady spends with Wife #2 (for instance), he has to apologize and appease her for what Wives #1, #3, #4, #5 and also for himself whatever he might have done since the last time he spent time with her. And don't forget each wife has kids that could potentially upset Wife #2 as well. So basically he is appeasing and consoling each wife each night.....wouldn't that just be exhausting? Why not just remain single and have many girlfriends and don't drag a bunch of kids into the world? I was emotionally exhausted after watching the rounds with the five Brady wives. I actually walked away feeling sorry for all of them, including Brady.

Because men like Brady and Kody see women as childlike, the idea that they can rule, manage, manipulate, and assuage the wives they have collected feeds into their patriarichal power. Pool little emotionally stunted women who fight over my birthday night, who are upset about X...it's a power and ego thing for these men and the more emotionally stunted the women are the more power the man has.

While these men obviously DO have an ego and power trip thing with regard to their harems, they may also have low self esteem when it comes to relating to other males.

Having an insular, closed life where they can be the all knowing, all-deciding, all virile King surrounded by sycophant women who dote on him, bear and raise the children, run their households as best they can, making *his* world hum keeps these men from ever having to compete and measure up to other traditional males.Are they hiding out, unsure of their own masculinity??

I'm calling BS on the claim that this clan hasn't been involved with a religion since they left their previous church. My guess is that this family is at least loosely affiliated with a religious group, but they don't want to talk about it and/or the group doesn't want the attention. By claiming that they're a lone pack, the show producers won't be pushing for visits from friends, visits to the church, and so on.

Blah...I can't seem to work up much interest in this family. I won't be watching.I think the reason that Brady was hesitant about the one wife having another child is that she has had problems carrying children and maybe he was worried about her health.

I watched the five wives. I think/know I will watch. What I did like is the women aren't pawing at him and seem to think and speak freely. Krody Krew seems to be cautious in bringing anything up and let Krody do the talking. If the special is an indicator, I think I will get the insight I have always wanted. I want the true dynamic. I'm really open minded I think...I suppose if people want to live that way absent of abuse and fraud, I don't care. My issue is supporting those like krody with welfare food stamps etc... If he wants as many kids as he wants then he should provide, not me and you. He lucked out right now even having a show. Even honey boo boos mom said it could end tomorrow so they got a bigger vehicle and still live in there 2bedroom house,, maybe honey boo boo could teach krody a thing or two

During the scene where they were eating together (lasagna & salad) Mr. Brady bunch instructed one of the boys to dish himself up just a little. The small portions on the small paper plate made me feel sad for a growing boy.

i'm seeing a lot of the "ewwwww awkward" comments, and i agree that something about the hubby sets me off at the gut-go ... i loved that they actually had family meetings, among the adults, to settle on ideas and such, but with the five wives, it's weird that hubby gets to chair the meeting, and then it seems like it's his word whether they "go" or "no" on things, which sucks. i did like that they eat dinner together, all of them, on a rotating basis every night since family meal times are important, but then again factor in 30 mouths with really only the ability to eat because you wouldn't be able to have any conversations/everyone trying to talk at once ... so in bits and pieces, just like "Sister Wives," i see certain things that appear to be working, and then i end up thinking "how the f' can this work?" i end up seeing so much that i love and also love to hate about the women and their personalities, but when i'm not sure i can look a the husbands in the same way ... really serious things piss me off about them, whether they're married to one woman or 20 ... (have been reading this blog for some time and never commented until last night, so i also wanted to say that it's refreshing to read the comments here ... while there may be some spot-on sarcasm, there's no real cruelty here ...)

An Anon commented on another post that all the women are cousins. Would love to hear from her(?) again. As I remember, Nonie, Robyn, and Rhonda are full cousins, (Edith Jessop and Marvin Allred are their grandparents. That leaves Rosemary and Paulie. Rosemary I know is disgraced AUB council member Lyn Thompson's daughter. Her mother is Donna. So, can anyone help me out as to who Donna's parents are/were? Is she Edith Jessop's sister? That leaves Paulie to be accounted for. I think her father is Cyril Watt. Can't remember who her mother is. Anyone know? An interesting side note- Robyn's mother, Lorraine, "married" Nonie's father (Paul Gold) after Robyn's father died. Paul managed to "marry" four full sisters.

Two ex members of AUB posting now Mister Sister - I'm "ex AUB," and we've been joined by "ex AUB too." I agree that the Browns' religion is completely opposed to gay marriage, and also agree that their religion is racist. Certainly the Browns and the Dargers want to appear liberal and non racist, because that suits their agenda.Not sure what the Browns truly believe though - they may be swerving away from AUB in their own private direction. hard to tell.

I'm not sure what I think of My 5 Wives.I don't think it's fair to compare to the browns and here's why. They were produced by two different companies. Obviously, the Browns had a better one.That to me is the real problem. This was a special, not a series, yet shot in series style. The Williams family said they are not afraid to speak about their beliefs yet we were subject to far to much about Brady and his longing wives vs the cold hard facts about why they left the AUB, that sort of thing. How do they believe different? Yes, now they follow Buddhism, yet that is not a religion! So already, untruths. Do they still believe in celestial planets and afterlife babies, that's the hard hitting things I want to know.

Buddhism is definitely a religion. Being a follower of that faith, I'm going to have to disagree strongly with this comment. I identify Buddhism as my religion and I am certainly being untruthful about it! Some people follow it more as a lifestyle, and I understand it is very different from the Abrahamic faiths, but let's not down-grade it please. It is just as important to me as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc., is to others.

1. Even though EVERYONE proclaims they are so, so, so happy EVERYONE (except the husband) will be sobbing by the end of the episode. There are also a lot of frowny faces and jealous rants, but they are still happy, happy, happy.

2. Apparently it takes over 20 years of marriage for polygamists to figure out what to do if one of the wives and the husband have the same birthday.

3. It's important for each wife to have sex with the husband on her birthday.

4. It's important for each wife to have a turn at having sex with the husband on each birthday.

5. Apparently birthday sex is important.

6. Polygamist husbands get to decide who gets to have a baby and apparently, it may be OK for one wife to adopt but too expensive for another wife to give birth to her own baby.

7. Adopting a baby from China is the only way to teach your kids not to be racist.

8. Even if a polygamist family eats dinner together every night, it's still essential for the father to instruct the kids on how to line up and how to get their food.

9. Polygamists don't have any real plates.

10. Omelettes are gourmet food.

11. If it's not a sister wife's night, a body pillow with a cartoon drawing of your husband is good enough.

12. Everyone should get kisses instead of spanks on their birthday, even if it makes everyone feel uncomfortable and awkward -- except the husband.

All of these large TLC families seem to use paper plates and plastic utensils for their meals. The Duggars do it, the Browns and now the Bradys. It seems ridiculous that they all use paper plates when filming....gosh knows what they do when not filming....all just scavange around with a plastic fork, hoping to get enough? Weird. There are plenty of kids to get the dishes into the dishwasher and run a couple of loads a day. If you are going to have 24 kids, you ought to be able to use real plates and forks and plan on washing them.

CPA Carol... did you notice the paper plates when the one wife was making omelettes for her kids. Seems so wasteful and lazy. Not only do the kids never seem to be washing dishes or even putting them into a dishwasher, I never notice any of the kids doing chores of any kind.

yaegerl, glad you've seen the light. The wives get to hand over their self-esteem on a paper plate while the husbands get more and more arrogant. I'm thinking polygamist heaven sounds a bit hellish.

CG - yes I did notice the paper plates for the omelette. How pitiful to use such flimsy looking paper plates for their meals - surely they have regular plates and if they don't, well then go to the Goodwill store and pick some up. And Brady telling the kids to take a small portion was pitiful, too.

CPA Carol -- totally pitiful. Growing children need enough food. Even the omelette portions were very tiny. Even though the plates were flimsy, it is still more expensive to purchase and throw away paper plates than to just buy a simple set of regular plates from the Goodwill or even Walmart.

Fun with Figures -- now that will have to be a whole new episode. Who gets the Valentine's Day sex? What about the Christmas sex? Is there Thanksgiving sex and who is more thankful, the wife that gets it or the wife that doesn't (I guess that depends on who you're married to). As Robyn would say, these are things that us monogamous women will never get the joy of experiencing, arguing with your sister wife about who gets the husband and who gets the pillow on statutory holidays.

I guess Brady's bunch are independent polygamists in one sense, but not in the same way as most "Independents" who adhere to the teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Brady and his women started off living this for religious reasons, but now have no religious rationale for their polygamy.

The Dargers are independent fundamental Mormons...and the Brady's are now....not any kind of Mormon at all, so I guess I am curious as to the reasoning behind them leaving their church, as I think all of the women actually grew up in that?

Does the husband have that much control, that he can tell the women to abandon all their beliefs. That's the story I am wondering about. What prompted *that* and how did he get all 5 women on board....and absolutely, as there is no religious reasoning for their polygamy at this point, are they all in it cause it's too late to turn back and they want to stay together for the kids? And if so, what happens when the youngest grows up....so many questions.

now over all the lds will quickly jump in and say"oh..we dont practice that any more" but truth be told its still in their d/c book under 132...there joseph says that every one must practice it or off to see your other brother satan..

Important part is this:"The women still have family members in the church who pray for them to repent and return. They haven't been ostracized by family and friends in the community, but town leaders have made it clear to Brady Williams, a former church leader, that they prefer the family leave town."

Not sure how credible this is or not, but a possible reason they are trying to get their own show would be so they can afford to move. As much as I don't want another show like this on aire, this could prove to be a very interesting train wreck if what the "church" has said about them is true. Could bring the Browns house of cards tumbling down.

I will have popcorn for every singe episode if they get their own show.

I would like to see the Rocky Ridge community leaders pressured to come up with payment for Brady Williams' homes so that they COULD leave town! These communistic set-ups are a nightmare when people want to leave. All your money goes in and none comes out. The same potential for religious coercion as with the FLDS and the UEP trust down in Colorado City/Hildale, and why the state took over.

To ex AUB: Thank you for your input. You have been giving us the REAL STORY from an inside perspective. The history and background you provide is illuminating. It helps to make sense out of all the stories put out by the polygamist families. Fascinating! Keep more coming.

Couple of questions regarding AUB. Maybe ex-AUB can answer. Does the group own the homes the Williams are living in? Do they paying the group rent or a tithe? Also, does the AUB following the LDS word of wisdom or wear the same garments?

ex AUB, you may know a lot about the AUB, but I'm not sure you really understand Rocky Ridge. I have family from there and Rocky Ridge really isn't like Colorado City/Hildale or FLDS people at all.. The Rocky Ridge community does try to buy the homes of apostates or anybody who just decides to leave, and for a fair price. The whole community pools together to build everyone's homes in work projects where the community offers free labor. Even materials are sometimes donated to individuals who need the help. None of the homes are ever built with any debt or mortgages incurred. They do not pay rent, but they would be responsible for their own property tax to the state. That is one reason people like him can afford to have so many children.So if Brady chooses to say is most likely because his home is paid for and cheaper to house his family there than anywhere else.In answer to Andrea Torres question, yes the AUB pay tithing. Many AUB members live in ordinary suburbs like everyone else. Some choose to join an "united order" which is a community where they give more than a tithe. If a AUB member is living in a order community, it means they are paying a full tithe, and then in addition to that they give any surplus they are able to support the less fortunate. So widows, orphans, people who lost their jobs, roads built, ect. by them pooling their excess. In addition to financial contributions, many order communities have work projects where they help others in the community build homes, or plant a garden.And yes Andrea, the AUB follow the LDS word of wisdom, but do not wear the same garments. The AUB wear one piece long-john style garments to the wrist and ankles underneath their clothing.

re my five wives, in the group dinner, not only did none of the kids say a word that I can remember, but while everyone was eating they all sat around with this frown on their faces. What's the point of sharing a meal if no one talks. I realize the camera crew makes things awkward, but I thought it was interesting none of the kids were irrepressible and chattering in spite of the camera. All very gloomy gusses and the wives all with these sour put upon looks on their faces. They seem like a really "fun" (not) group.

YAWN!!!! It was a lil' hard to stay tuned & interested. Kind of like quite a few of the Brown's episodes. Why give another polygamous family a TV show & pay them big $$ to give America a sugar coated version of their lifestyle? Afterall, polygamy is ILLEGAL & I just don't think they should be rewarded or given a platform. It's time to give a platform to & reward the true survivors of polygamy by giving them a TV show so that America can learn & know the truth about the evils & dark side of polygamy.

Hi Caramel Brownie: I suspect that the problem with giving survivors of polygamy a television series is that it would hinder them from assimilating in society. It would be difficult for an ex-polygamist to get a job, attend school, make friends, join a social group, rent an apartment and do other "normal" things while being followed around by a television crew. I do think that a miniseries would be interesting, though.

Has anybody thought about doing a show about real American families living legally? We've got lots of diversity that *is* legal and interesting. It could even be enlightening. Imagine seeing the almost extinct two parent family talking about what it takes to stay married through the difficult teenage years. Or what it was like to convert to the others religion to get married like my mother did 50 years ago. Or mixed race couples. Or an unemployed primary bread winner.

A new story ever week. Call it something like: A Glimpse of American

Enough of making these freaks rich. You realize it is because of us that the Brown's got their McMansions.

Brady seems a nice, fairly normal guy on the surface, but the more you watch, the more you realize the man has a gigantic ego. He talked oh-so-earnestly about doing his best to be sure every wife gets to be with him as equally as possible, but oh shucks, there is just not enough of him for everyone to get as much time with him as she deserves! How very sad for the wives that every wife can't have the awesome pleasure of being with him on his birthday! So tragic for them, poor little pathetic wives.

When one wife (Rosemary?) said it was inappropriate for another to talk about having a baby, she meant because the other wife started talking about it in the middle of the adoption discussion, when it wasn't her turn. It was like she was butting into a discussion of one wife's issue to start taking about an entirely separate issue of her own. She didn't mean it was inappropriate to consider it or to talk about it, just that they were discussing something else at that time. At least that's how I saw it.

I also don't think they knew about her conversation with Brady. I think it was edited to look like that convo came first, but it might not have. I just don't get why she was told they can't afford a baby, but foreign adoption is okay.

I haven't posted in a while but here is what I think about the whole "independent, liberal polygamist" thing:

Polygamy without a strong religious, economic or cultural purpose simply doesn't make sense for the women. Simply put - it's not a good deal for them.

Aside from the fundamentalist LDS groups, there's not a lot of polygamy that is not driven by economic scarcity (for example, Sub-Saharan Africa) or cultural/religious belief (Iran). Usually, it's a combination of both (Saudi Arabia, Yemen). Countries where polygamy is common are not on the forefront of religious freedom or women's rights.

So, the argument that the Bradys are living polygamy despite having moved away from their religious group (AUB) rests on the concept of personal fulfillment and happiness. Personal fulfillment strikes at the heart of all religious fundamentalism as the good of the group (family) must come before the good of the individual. So there's a huge internal conflict here.

Of course, just because they are not official members of the AUB doesn't mean they still don't think polygamy will open to them the highest level of heavenly glory. I would really like to know if they are motivated to live polygamy due to rewards in the afterlife. It seems to me that without this benefit, polygamy would be pretty meaningless. And my understanding of the LDS in general, and all forms of fundamentalism in general, includes this deep sense of purpose that is so attractive to members.

Not only that, I read enough about the LDS faith to conclude that the afterlife is really, really an important point of focus; the show Big Love touched on this. Our time on earth is just a blink of an eye compared to eternity. If that's the case, and if this life of earth is so brief and exists only to prepare us for the next, then I could see how polygamy could be sold to women as a brief but necessary burden of the faith.

But if they no longer believe polygamy grants them this benefit, or if it's not as important to them in terms of faith, then they are really are making the argument that they are living polygamy because they like it.

And I don't buy it. I just don't accept the argument that, apart from religious, cultural, or economic pressure, women will choose to live polygamy over monogamy. The supposed benefits - shared child care, help with 'taking care of the man' - just don't seem to be that big a part of the whole polygamy deal.

I think that's what is, in part, so fascinating about watching the Browns and now the Bradys. We are amazed that women living in a fully developed economy, with lots of eligible males and lots of economic opportunity, would choose this lifestyle. It's beyond belief that women would live this life because it makes them happy when clearly it does not. That's why, for me, Janelle has been the most fascinating of the Brown wives; she was not raised in polygamy and could easily have chosen another path. I would love to really understand the basis of her choice to join Kody and Meri.

I really enjoyed your comments. Being a practicing polygamist, you've struck at the heart of the internal conflict women in plural marriage deal with. I would NEVER live plural marriage if it wasn't for a religious and spiritual motivation and, by the way, neither would my husband. He's told me many times that if he didn't believe the religion, he would have remained a bachelor. So, it makes me sad and it hurts to read all the mean, uninformed, and prejudicial opinions of people regarding practicing polygamists. It truly never ceases to amaze me how mean-spirited people can be towards others who choose to live something that isn't popular. Are the negative opinions of people going to deter me from living my religion? No. Not any more than my opinions are going to deter or stem the tide of misinformation, prejudice, and...just plain...meanness. Do people think that "plygs" don't read or keep informed of the plethora of sentiments uttered against them and their religion? I have to chuckle when I read articles and posts made by people who are trying to "put down the evil of polygamy". They often use their cause to justify lies, stir up prejudice, treat polygamists with hate and scorn, promote discrimination, and generally promote "evil", thinking that it's okay because others are doing "evil" too. Funny logic, if one has any belief in the principles of goodness and ESPECIALLY if one is a believer of the principles Jesus Christ teaches. :) Thank you again for your insightful comments.

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